Servicing costs for a 'big' bike?

[Jantar]

I've just collected my bike after its 36000 km service. Total cost $953.

But that did include new rear tyre, chain and sprockets (not standard size), brake pads, air filter etc.

The next service will be the expensive one. It will be just before the Southern Cross and will be two new tyres, valve adjustment, throttle body synch as well as replace any parts that look as though they may be due within the following 8000 km.

[NOWOOL]

I'm going through the same dilema; I want a sport tourer but i don't frequent (or any) valve adjustments that require high price tags.

What bikes don't require valve adjustments?

What bikes will go at least 25,000km's without needing them inspected?

[cheshirecat]

Well I reckon should do my old red bus once a yearish. Done 16,000k in 8 months and it doesn't need doing. Previous owner did them at 55,000 and I'm now over 80,000. Just about to put a new chain on though and will hopefully avoid needing new sprockets. pads OK.

[Karl@Alpha]

Get a Morini!
Two years free servicing!
3 years warranty!
Mmmm... 1200cc of Italian maddness!
Try one today!

[mikeey01]

The Ducati is no longer in the picture, I've decided to wait until I can afford the full spec option before I go buying a Monster (yes I've got my lotto ticket!)
Its back to the drawing board & waiting a few weeks now by the looks of things. Thanks for all your input guys.

Well since I've owned a few big bikes...........

Ducati or not to Ducati.....

2 valve is a lot cheaper than a 4 valve to maintain, but you don't get nothing for nothing. i.e. power out always comes at a cost, same goes for any high performance engine.

If it's cost your worried about then buy a 2v Ducati. Do the minor maintenance yourself, such as oil / filter etc.

As for belts and shims, arr hell people make a big deal out of it, end of the day it's a check, sometimes a shim is changed and piece of mind you change the belts at 20k.

They are not that expensive to maintain, contrary to common myth.

That said if you want cheap maintenance then don't buy a Ducati, or any other high performance bike for that matter!
Sports bikes cost, tyres, engine performance etc etc. Service intervals less than 10k
Cruisers / tourers normally cost less. Service intervals above 10~12k

Italian bikes are about emotion.

If you want the fastest, sharpest, trickest bike on the planet, buy Japanese and follow the crowd.

But if you want a bike to stir you deep inside every time you open the garage door,
a bike you will spend hours cleaning just for the sake of it,
a bike that will make you shudder every time you hit the starter button and grin like an idiot behind a dark visor on the open road, there is none better.

stolen from www.ducatispares.co.nz

[Little Miss Trouble]

haha awesome timing with the thread dredge, my SV is up for a service this week, very interested to see what the cost will be

[3umph]

Had my Daytone in to get the basics done just before christmas as part of the std 20000k service...

wanted valve clearances, balance throttle bodies, replace fuel filter, new plugs and a computer tune up and that was it apart from a few small things...

what I got was:
valve clearances
balance throttle bodies
new plugs and a computer tune up
Replaced oil and filter (instructions were defiantly DON'T Change the oil ... so did not get charged for it so they say)
Drain and replace brake fluid (I had done this 4 weeks prior)
Replace front brake pads
Tighten and lube chain (new chain about 2 weeks prior from different shop)
put air in my leaky rear tyre
New valve cover rubber gasket (replaced due to being leaky but then found out leak was most likley due to snapped bolt for holding cover on)
Helicoil for above cover bolt

And a hell of a lot bigger bill then what I was budgeting on...

What I didn't get but asked for:
replace fuel filter.... but then told not to worry about it till it starts playing up.... I thought preventative maintenance was better then crapping out in the middle on nowhere but told that it should do 40-50k

If you take a bike in say what you want done and make sure they write it down and get an idea of price and when you pick it up make sure they stick to it....

to easy for the $$$ to be added on

[mikeey01]

so who did the service, just so I know not to go there!